Theoretical Foundation Research Articles

Sweet sorghum as alternative carbon sources for Chlorella sp. valued-added compounds production: A mechanistic insight using transcriptomics

Substituting agricultural by-products for glucose as a carbon source is an effective strategy for reducing the cultivation cost of Chlorella sp. However, the response mechanism of Chlorella sp. to variations in carbon sources remains unclear, and the potential of microalgal biomass for food development warrants further exploration. This study used hydrolysate of sweet sorghum stem juice (HSJ) for the mixotrophic cultivation of Chlorella sp. And transcriptomic analysis was performed to investigate the physiological and metabolic mechanisms as well as the biosynthesis of value-added compounds (e.g., pigments and proteins) of Chlorella sp. in response to changes in carbon sources. The HSJ + NM group (HSJ supplemented with nitrogen and minerals) significantly increased total chlorophyll, carotenoids, lutein, and protein levels by 18.02 %, 13.34 %, 35.95 %, and 20.36 %, respectively, compared to the control (adjusted BG-11 medium supplemented with 10 g/L glucose). Notably, transcript levels of genes for multiple key enzymes involved in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation pathway, and photosynthesis pathways were significantly up-regulated. The activity of these pathways promoted the pigments and proteins synthesis in Chlorella sp. Encouragingly, the cost of cultivating Chlorella sp. with HSJ + NM (0.495 USD/kg) was 43.35 % of glucose (1.142 USD/kg). Further, by fermenting Chlorella sp. cultures with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and further homogenizing and blending the fermentation broth, we developed a nutritious and palatable Chlorella sp. fermented beverage, addressing the common issue of algal odor in such products. This study provides theoretical and practical foundations for the mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae and the application of microalgal biomass in food innovation.

Progress in Improving Metabolic Syndrome with Adzuki Bean

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a clinical condition characterized by the simultaneous onset of abdominal obesity, abnormal blood sugar levels, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. It significantly impacts overall health and exhibits an increasing prevalence with a decreasing age of onset. Metabolic syndrome affects approximately one quarter of the global population, posing a critical threat to human well-being as a major public health concern. Current approaches for prevention and management primarily rely on pharmaceutical interventions or lifestyle modifications; however, their effectiveness remains limited. In recent years, the concept of food-medicine homology has emerged as a novel theory that holds promise in alleviating metabolic syndrome. Adzuki bean, a widely cultivated legume rich in various nutrients and bioactive compounds, has been traditionally recognized in Chinese medicine for its beneficial effects on invigorating QI (vital energy), arming the middle (digestive system), strengthening the spleen (immune function), and eliminating dampness (excess moisture). Numerous studies have demonstrated that adzuki bean can effectively regulate blood sugar levels, lipid profiles, blood pressure while improving gut microbiota imbalances and exhibiting anti-obesity properties to some extent. As such, it can serve as an adjunct therapy for managing metabolic syndrome. Compared to conventional drugs used for this purpose, adzuki bean offers safer alternatives with diverse product options. These findings provide valuable theoretical foundations and practical references for preventing and treating diseases associated with metabolic syndrome.

Enhancing Erasure Resilience in Reed-Solomon Codes: Theory and Applications in Data Storage Systems

Reed-Solomon (RS) codes are widely utilized in data storage and communication systems due to their robust error detection and correction capabilities. However, traditional RS codes encounter challenges in addressing the increasing data corruption rates demanded by modern storage systems. This paper aims to overcome these limitations by modifying and extending the structure of traditional RS codes, particularly enhancing their recovery capabilities in the face of significant data loss. We begin by reviewing the theoretical foundations of RS codes and existing extension methods and discussing emerging technologies integrated into RS codes. We then present detailed methodologies for RS code encoding, erasure recovery mechanisms, soft decision decoding, and interleaving coding techniques, followed by a series of experiments designed to test the proposed methods. The experimental results indicate that soft-decision decoding outperforms traditional hard-decision decoding under high signal-to-noise ratio conditions, albeit with increased computational complexity as the list of candidate codewords grows. Interleaved Reed-Solomon (IRS) coding offers improved performance under low signal-to-noise ratio conditions but may introduce additional system complexity due to the interleaving and deinterleaving processes. We conclude with a summary of the research findings, a discussion of the study’s limitations, and suggestions for future research directions.

Strain effects on electronic structure and optics of al-Doped monolayer GaS

This comprehensive study utilises rigorous first-principles calculations to meticulously investigate the influence of uniaxial tensile strain on the electronic configuration and optical behaviours of aluminium-doped gallium sulphide. The study highlights the modulation of electrical properties and optical responses in Al-doped monolayer GaS through the application of tensile strain. Notably, with increasing tensile strain, the bandgap value of the pristine GaS exhibits a pronounced decline, whereas the Al-doped variant maintains a more stable bandgap. A deeper exploration of the state density reveals the emergence of novel electronic states and energy levels in both the pristine and Al-doped monolayer GaS systems as tensile strain is applied. Crucially, the stabilising effect of the doped Al atoms minimises variations in the state density profiles of the Al-doped monolayer GaS systems, in contrast to their pristine counterparts. This result implies that fine control of the electrical structure and optical characteristics of Al-doped monolayer GaS may be achieved by the application of uniaxial tensile strain. The optoelectronic characteristics of GaS and its doped systems are explained in detail by these discoveries, which also offer a crucial theoretical foundation and direction for the use of these materials in optoelectronic devices.

Research Progress on Mechanism of Shikonin in Treatment of Colitis

Zicao, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine utilized in the clinical management of ailments such as soreness, eczema, burns from both water and fire, various forms of hemorrhage, among others. Shikonin, a naphthoquinone compound derived from the root of comfrey, exhibits properties including antioxidation, anti-inflammation, promotion of skin repair, free radical scavenging, and inhibition of lipid metabolism. Colitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the colon that can arise from diverse etiological factors including bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, protozoa and other organisms; its primary clinical manifestations encompass diarrhea, abdominal pain and mucus-laden stools. This condition often presents with recurrent episodes. The treatment for colitis predominantly relies on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents; however their long-term side effects are considerable. Therefore it is crucial to explore milder therapeutic alternatives. Recent studies have indicated that shikonin may effectively address colitis by elucidating its underlying mechanisms in this review paper aimed at providing a theoretical foundation for the treatment and recovery process associated with colitis.

O LÚDICO COMO PROPOSTA ESTRATÉGICA PARA O ENSINO, APRENDIZAGEM E DESENVOLVIMENTO DE ESTUDANTES AUTISTAS

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by atypical development, behavioral manifestations, deficits in communication and social interaction, repetitive and stereotyped behavior patterns, and may include a restricted repertoire of interests and activities. It is crucial that schools are concerned with the quality of education, which requires the collective commitment of educators and students, aiming at the integral formation of citizenship through the effective construction of knowledge. In order to better understand autism within the context of regular schools and education for autistic individuals, we chose to conduct a bibliographical research, discussing the theoretical foundations relevant to the study. Upon concluding the research, we observed that the use of play as a pedagogical method can be highly effective with autistic students, providing an interesting and fun approach to learning acquisition. We recognize that autistic students have special educational needs that must be met by teachers in order to promote their development and ensure that they follow the teaching-learning process.

Comparative Chloroplast Genome Analysis in High-Yielding Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis

Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis, a species endemic to Yunnan, China, accounts for over 90% of Yunnan’s Pinus resin production. However, there is significant variation in resin yield among individuals, and molecular markers for identifying high-yielding individuals have yet to be developed. In this study, a comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genomes of P. kesiya var. langbianensis was conducted to perform a phylogenetic analysis and differentiate high-yielding individuals. Both high-yielding (HY) and low-yielding (LY) trees possess a typical quadripartite structure, with respective genome sizes of 119,812 bp and 119,780 bp. Each chloroplast genome contains 112 genes, including 72 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. Furthermore, HY and LY trees contain 30 and 34 SSRs, respectively, with mononucleotide repeats being predominant; neither genome exhibited trinucleotide or pentanucleotide repeats. Six highly variable regions were identified: trnI-CAU-psbA, trnH-GUG-trnI-CAU, rpl16, rrn4.5-rrn5, petG-petL, and psaJ. Phylogenetic analysis based on 72 Pinus species revealed that HY and LY trees clustered separately, with the HY tree grouping with P. kesiya and the LY tree with P. yunnanensis. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the molecular identification of high-yield P. kesiya var. langbianensis individuals and enriches the understanding of its phylogenetic relationships.

Improving compositional homogeneity of CF53 steel products by modifying their solidification structure and F-EMS intensity

In this article, based on the mechanism of stirring induced solute washing, the solidification characteristics of CF53 steel for camshafts were systematically studied through industrial casting tests and numerical simulations, focusing on the impact of solidification structure and final electromagnetic stirring (F-EMS) on solute distribution homogeneity in the core area of the bloom casting. The results indicate that excessive columnar crystal development, coupled with inappropriate use of F-EMS, can lead to significant negative segregation in the bloom, resulting in the formation of “white bands” in the following rolling bar products. Compared with weak stirring, strong stirring can affect solutes at deeper levels between dendrites. By reducing superheat and casting speed, expanding the equiaxed crystal zone in the bloom's centre, and carefully controlling the stirring intensity of F-EMS to position the molten steel washing in the equiaxed crystal zone, along with maintaining a maximum tangential velocity of 0.0041 m/s, a substantial improvement in solute distribution homogeneity within the bloom's core area was achieved. The carbon range can be reduced from 0.093% to 0.032%. These findings offer a theoretical foundation and practical suggestions for enhancing the quality of CF53 steel bloom castings and their hot-rolled bar products used in camshaft manufacture.

Multidimensional Insights into Organics Stress on Anammox systems: From a "Molecule-Cell-Ecology" Perspective.

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is efficient and cost-effective for treating high-strength ammonia wastewater, but the organics in wastewater will affect its stability. To address this challenge, it is crucial to gain a deep understanding of the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of organics stress on anammox bacteria. The review provided a comprehensive classification of organics and evaluated their specific effects on the anammox system according to their respective characteristics. Based on the micro to macro perspective, the "molecule-cell-ecology" inhibitory mechanism of organics on anammox bacteria was proposed. The molecular observation systematically summarized the binding process and action sites of organics with anammox bacteria. At the cellular observation, the mechanisms of organics effects on extracellular polymeric substances, membranes, and anammoxosome of anammox bacteria were also expounded. At the ecological observation, the dynamic changes in coexisting populations and their role in organics transformation were further discussed. Further revelations on response mechanisms and inhibition mitigation strategies were proposed to broaden the applicability of anammox systems for organic wastewater. This review offered a multidimensional understanding of the organics inhibitory mechanism of anammox bacteria and provided a theoretical foundation for anammox systems.

The CAT’s race: Who will claim this nobel prize?

This article explores the competitive scientific endeavor to detect the Cosmic FM Background (CFMB), a predicted radiation whose discovery could substantiate the Small Bang model and potentially challenge the prevailing Big Bang paradigm in cosmology. We delve into the theoretical foundation of CFMB, detailing methodologies for its detection and discussing the profound implications such a discovery would hold for astrophysics. The detection of CFMB would not only shift current cosmological theories but also pave the way for new understanding of the universe’s earliest moments.

Evolution and relevance of research on Environmental, Social, and Governance factors

AbstractIn the wake of a compelling societal shift and the subsequent widespread response across multiple industries, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have emerged as a pivotal subject in scholarly literature. To gauge the significance of these contributions and facilitate objective exploration in future research, we employ bibliometric techniques. Thus, we identify the relevant authors and journals, and depict the evolution in the themes and pillars of the intellectual framework underpinning the topic. Our analysis covers 594 articles from 2007 to 2022, divided into two distinct periods. In the first period, the pillars are centered on contextualizing theories, the impact in terms of financial‐related performance, and the ethical implications within the domain of corporate social responsibility. In the subsequent period, there is a notable progression towards reinforcing theoretical foundations. The pillars shift towards more practical implications, focusing on challenges associated with investing based on ESG criteria, guiding stakeholders in adapting to this paradigm, and addressing risks tied to its implementation. Financial performance, disclosure in reporting, and socially responsible investments remain crucial matters, and the analysis of the environmental issues outnumber social, and governance ones in both periods. We discuss the potential implications and further lines of research.

Moving beyond the initial stages in L3/Ln research: toward theorising L3 development

ABSTRACT This article serves as an introduction to the present special issue, which focuses on third language (L3) development. It provides a brief overview of the theoretical foundations necessary to map L3 (grammatical) development, with particular attention to the recently proposed Cumulative Input Threshold Hypothesis (Cabrelli & Iverson, 2023). Additionally, the introduction offers a brief overview of the six contributions included in this issue, originally presented at the Workshop on Multilingual Language Acquisition, Processing, and Use, held at King’s College London in 2024. The introduction concludes by outlining what I consider to be the next logical steps in the study of L3 grammatical development.

Intergenerational Domination

AbstractThe political and ethical status of future generations is commonly discussed within conceptual frameworks like intergenerational justice, rights, or welfare. In this article, I argue that the concept of domination can provide a novel perspective on the philosophy of intergenerational relations. To that end, I first advance and defend a (slightly) revised conception of domination, drawing on Philip Pettit’s neorepublican view. Second, I establish a prima facie case for the existence of intergenerational domination and address four major objections to the claim that the present generation dominates future generations: the non-concurrency challenge, a modified version of the non-identity problem, the inescapability objection, and the problem of historical domination. Finally, I explore some implications and conceptual advantages of the framework of intergenerational domination. As a theoretical foundation of a comprehensive analysis of structures of domination, the proposed framework may contribute to identifying and reducing domination within and across generations.

A Literature Review of the Research on Digital Management in Higher Education

Digital management holds significant importance in higher education, especially in cultivating digital literacy personnel. The theoretical foundation of digital management encompasses various domains, such as information science, management studies, and education. In practice, digital management has achieved notable results in teaching, research, and administrative management. Scholars have proposed strategies to address challenges like information security and data sharing. The future development trends of digital management in higher education distinctly point towards intelligence and personalization, aiming to significantly enhance management efficiency and promote equitable distribution of educational resources through technological innovation. However, a major challenge currently faced in this research area is insufficient diversity exploration. Therefore, future studies must expand both breadth and depth.

Understanding the consumer purchase behaviour towards green electronic products: using insight from the theory of planned behaviour

PurposeThis research investigation aims to explore the factors that affect purchasing behaviour among consumers in India in the context of green electronic products with the aid of the extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) by incorporating two additional constructs, namely environmental concern and ethical obligation.Design/methodology/approachThe current research adopted a quantitative methodology, utilising a survey (questionnaire) to gather data from respondents residing in Delhi-NCR, India. A convenience sampling technique was used to select these respondents. Both online and offline modes were used to collect the data. Moreover, to evaluate the theoretical foundation of the investigation, the researchers employed PLS-SEM (partial least square structural equation modelling) on 346 useable samples.FindingsThe outcome reveals that attitude, subjective norm and perceived behaviour control (PBC) are significant predictors, supplementary constructs such as environmental concern are not significant predictors, whereas ethical obligation is a substantial predictor of purchase intention. Consumer purchase behaviour, in turn, is influenced by consumer purchase intention.Practical implicationsThe outcome of this research could help the country’s legislators formulate policies and programs related to current environmental problems faced by our planet. Marketers could understand the factors that drive consumers' purchasing behaviour towards green electronic products and design effective marketing strategies accordingly. Thus, by enhancing the company’s green image, marketers of green products may potentially increase future purchases, all of which contribute to solving worldwide environmental problems.Originality/valueThis research confirms the usefulness of TPB in understanding Indian consumers' purchasing intention and behaviour towards green electronic products. It further extends the TPB by showing that new components, environmental concerns and ethical obligations influence Indian consumers' purchasing intentions and behaviour. Moreover, prior studies mostly used both additional constructs for green products. Current research used specific types of green products, i.e. green electronic products, as very few studies are available on these products that apply TPB, which makes this study novel. In contrast to previous research that primarily examined purchase intention, this study takes a further step by investigating the connection between intentions and consumers' purchase behaviour. It establishes intention as a precursor to behaviour, specifically towards green electronic products. Additionally, this study introduces new constructs and explores the Indian context, significantly contributing to the existing literature.

The impact of informal control on the innovation performance of female technology professionals from the perspective of role pressure

BackgroundWith the rapid advancement of the technology industry, particularly in STEM fields, female professionals have increasingly become key drivers of innovation. Despite this, existing research has seldom examined the psychological impact of informal control on their innovation performance. Therefore, this study distributed questionnaires to female technology professionals in China’s STEM field to investigate the effect of informal control on their innovation performance from a psychological perspective. It further explored the mediating role of role pressure and the moderating role of environmental turbulence in this relationship.MethodsThis study primarily utilized AMOS 24.0 to develop structural equation models, and employed PROCESS 24.0 and SPSS 26.0 for data analysis purposes.ResultsThe findings reveal that informal control positively predicted the innovation performance of female technology professionals in STEM field. Role pressure partially mediates this relationship, while environmental turbulence positively moderates the relationship between informal control and innovation performance among female technology professionals in STEM field.DiscussionTheoretically, this research enriches the individual-level approaches to enhancing management control effectiveness. Practically, it aids managers in focusing on the psychological well-being of female technology professionals in STEM field, thereby facilitating the judicious selection of management control methods. The study’s conclusions aim to provide logical guidance for enterprises to further strengthen their attention and support for female technology professionals in STEM field. Simultaneously, it offers a theoretical foundation for enhancing their innovative capabilities.

Evaluating the robustness of the ARIO model for a local disaster: 2021 flooding in Germany

Abstract Given the interconnectedness of modern economies and the widespread adoption of just-in-time production methods, even minor disruptions caused by natural disasters can lead to substantial indirect economic impact. A substantial body of literature has explored this phenomenon, using input-output analysis, computable general equilibrium and agent-based models. However, these models (i) heavily rely on parameters and data that often lack empirical grounding or (ii) exhibit considerable uncertainty, making it challenging to assess their reliability. The ARIO model has been widely used in the literature and has provided theoretical foundation for several related models. Using the July 2021 floods in Germany as a case study, we assess the sensitivity of the results of this model by varying key parameters, as well as the multi-regional input-output tables (MRIOTs), which constitute its primary input data. To facilitate this analysis, we introduce a new, resource-efficient Python implementation of the ARIO model, enabling the execution of a large number of simulations. Our findings highlight the substantial impact of data source and parameter selection on model outcomes, especially so when post-disaster rebuilding is costly. To ensure the robustness of their results, future studies on indirect economic impacts should be careful about recovery dynamics, consider multiple scenarios and compare results using MRIOTs from various sources.

The Influential Mechanisms of Live-Streaming Hosts on Consumer Behavior

In recent years, with the rise of e-commerce live streaming, hosts promoting products have played a crucial role in connecting consumers with products and influencing consumer behavior intentions. This paper reviews the current state and trends in research on how these hosts affect consumer behavior intentions, exploring how their personal characteristics, interaction patterns, and discourse strategies impact consumer purchasing decisions. Through analysis from both quantitative and qualitative research perspectives, it reveals the influence mechanisms of these hosts in modern e-commerce environments. Additionally, it discusses the pivotal role of interactive information in e-commerce live streaming, including its ability to enhance purchase desire, enrich entertainment experiences, and improve consumer shopping experiences. While existing studies provide valuable insights, there are still research gaps, particularly in-depth studies on the influence of hosts in specific domains. The findings of this review are significant for understanding the central role of hosts in e-commerce live streaming and their impact on consumer behavior, providing a theoretical foundation and support for future research and practice.

Effects of AlOx Sub‐Oxide Layer on Conductance Training of Passive Memristor for Neuromorphic Computing

AbstractMemristors are recognized as crucial devices for the hardware implementation of neuromorphic computing. The conductance training process of memristors has a direct impact on the performance of neuromorphic computing. However, memristor breakdown and conductance decay still hinder the precise training process of neural networks based on passive memristor. Here, AlOx/LiNbO3 (LN) memristors are designed by inserting a AlOx sub‐oxide layer between the single‐crystalline LN thin film with oxygen vacancies (OVs) and Pt layer. Under the same training conditions, lower conductance and self‐compliance current effects are observed in AlOx/LN memristor. Slight spontaneous decay of conductance is achieved after the removal of the external stimulation. To explore the effects of AlOx sub‐oxide layer on the prevention of device breakdown and suppression of conductance decay, the memristive mechanism of devices with and without AlOx layer is revealed via time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometer (ToF‐SIMS). It is reasonable to believe that the AlOx inserting layer in memristors can serve as a self‐compliance current layer to inhibit device breakdown and provide the OVs reservoir to suppress conductance decay. These results offer new possibilities and theoretical grounds for achieving more reliable and precise conductance training of passive memristors.

Advanced Wastewater Treatment: Synergistic Integration of Reverse Electrodialysis with Electrochemical Degradation Driven by Low-Grade Heat

The reverse electrodialysis heat engine (REDHE) represents a transformative innovation that converts low-grade thermal energy into salinity gradient energy (SGE). This crucial form of energy powers reverse electrodialysis (RED) reactors, significantly changing wastewater treatment paradigms. This comprehensive review explores the forefront of this emerging field, offering a critical synthesis of key discoveries and theoretical foundations. This review begins with a summary of various oxidation degradation methods, including cathodic and anodic degradation processes, that can be integrated with RED technology. The degradation principles and characteristics of different RED wastewater treatment systems are also discussed. Then, this review examines the impact of several key operational parameters, degradation circulation modes, and multi-stage series systems on wastewater degradation performance and energy conversion efficiency in RED reactors. The analysis highlights the economic feasibility of using SGE derived from low-grade heat to power RED technology for wastewater treatment, offering the dual benefits of waste heat recovery and effective wastewater processing.